Top 10 Highest Selling Hip Hop Albums 10. Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Ruffhouse, 1998)
Released on August 25th, 1998, the debut solo album of the former Fugee Lauryn Hill set an unimaginable landmark for female MCs worldwide. Selling over 8 million copies and sweeping the Grammies for 11 nominations and 5 wins, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill also claims the title for one of the highest selling debut albums of all time.

The album has also been declared one of the greatest albums of all time coming in at number 37 on VH1’s Greatest Albums of all Time list and number 312 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of all time.





9. Will Smith – Big Willie Style (Columbia, 1997)
Who would’ve thought Will Smith would be on this list? Released on November 25th, 1997, during the big screen take off of the Fresh Prince’s acting career, Big Willie Style has sold over 9 million. With numerous hit singles such as “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”, “Just the two of us”, “Men In Black”, and “Miami” Will Smith returned to music industry with a bang after splitting with Dj Jazzy Jeff.





8. 2Pac – Greatest Hits (Death Row, 1998)
Released two years after the death of Tupac Shakur, the double disc compilation sold well over 9 million records and included 21 hits as well as four unreleased tracks including “Changes.” The Greatest hits compilation is also considered one of the highest selling posthumous rap releases.





7. 2Pac – All Eyez On Me (Death Row, 1996)
Released on February 13th, 1996, All Eyez on Me reached platinum status in just 4 hours. Selling over 9 million copies, the album is considered one of the most influential in hip hop history and is considered one of the landmarks of 90’s rap. The 27 track double album was recorded in a mere two weeks following a highly publicized 2pac arrest and qualifies for Diamond album status since each disc in a double album counts towards RIAA certification.





6. Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill (Def Jam, 1986)
What has been dubbed the first rap album to reach mainstream success, Licensed to Ill was the debut rap album from the Beasties Boys. Released in 1986, Licensed to Ill became Columbia Record’s fastest selling debut record going 9 times platinum. It has been ranked amongst the greatest albums of all time by both The Source Magazine as well as Rolling Stone Magazine.


The album has also been recognized as the first major full-length album by a white hip hop group.





5. Eminem – The Eminem Show (Aftermath, 2002)

At number 5 we have the highly controversial and massively popular The Eminem Show. Released ahead of schedule on May 28th, 2002, Eminem’s 3rd Major Label release sold over 7.6 million records by the end of 2006 and became Em’s third straight LP to win the Grammy award for Best Rap Album of the year. The album was ranked 317th in Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 greatest Albums of All times and has sold well over 10 million records to date.





4. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (Aftermath\Interscope 2000)

Eminem appears on this list once again with his sophomore album, The Marshall Mathers LP. Selling over 1.7 million copies during the first week of it’s May 23rd, 2000, release, The Marshall Mathers LP quickly became the fastest-selling rap album in history, almost tripling the record set by Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle and crushing the record for highest one-week sales by a solo artist previously held by Brittney Spears. The Marshall Mathers LP has sold over 10 million records in the US and is one of only four rap albums to achieve an RIAA Diamond Certification.





3. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death – (Bad Boy, 1997)

At Number 3 we have the second album by rap great, The Notorious B.I.G. Released on March 25th, 1997, two months after his death,the 24 track double LP is one of four albums to receive an RIAA certification of Diamond.
Considered by many to be one of the greatest rap albums of all times and is said to be among the first albums fashioned for the mainstream pop charts as it was created to include both gritty/hood music as well as include a very radio friendly vibe. To date the album has sold well over 10 million records in the US and was ranked at number 483 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 500 Greatest Albums of All times.





2. MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em (Capitol, 1990)

Released on March 13th, 1990, Mc Hammer’s second album stayed on top of the Billboards 200 chart at #1 for an amazing 21 weeks run.

Carried by the success of “U Can’t Touch This,” The album was the first Hip Hop album to be certified Diamond by The RIAA selling over 10 million records.


The album has also been credited as one of few to raise rap music to a new level of mainstream popularity.





1. OutKast – Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (LaFace, 2003)

Finally, at number 1 we have the September 23rd, 2003 double LP release of Outkast. Big Boi’s and Andre 3000’s “Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below” sold over 5.5 million copies, however, due to the fact that it was a double LP, the total sales came in at over 11 million copies and reached Diamond certification by going 11 times platinum.
To date, the album remains as the best selling hip hop album of all time and became the best selling album worldwide in 2003.




Quote:
Notes

- An honorable mention goes to Nelly’s Country Grammer which went 8 times platinum in 2000.

- 50 Cent isn’t on this list because he’s only sold 6 Million copies of GRODT in the US..12 Million worldwide.

- The highest selling album of all times is speculated to be Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which has sold over 54 Million Records to date.

- The Top 4 On That List Are The Only Four Albums To Reach Diamond Level

At MJ

and All Eyez on Me reached platinum status in just 4 hours.

well if those 5.5 million records of outkast count as 11 just because it's a double cd....then why did the sales of all eyez on me not count twice? since it is also a double cd consisting of 27 tracks...

I'm guessing because the Outkast one is two different artists.

I don't know where it's from but I guess the writer forgot to mention it, both Pac and BIG's double albums were of course counted twice and so was the greatest hits.

I guess Eminem shouldve put out a double album while he peaked.

2Pac: All Eyez on Me - 15 Mil (US Sales)
2Pac: Greatest Hits 12 Mil (US Sales)
2Pac: 7 Day Theory - 9 Mil (US Sales)

damn micheal jackoson is da man 54mil off one album now 50 bitch ass who thinks hes da onli one to sell albums beat dat

Interesting. Props for the list. Didnt expect to see a couple of albums on that^

Because they were just double CD's, whereas with Outkast, you actually got 2 different albums at the same time, not just CD1 and CD2 of the same album, you actually got 2 different titled albums from 2 Artists.

yea i thought 2pacs greatest hits was like 12 or 13 times platinum in the US and like 16 or 17 worldwide